Tire chain and armor.



w.1. PUTNAM. TIRE CHAIN AND AR'MOR. APPLlCATION FILED 050.2 4.1915.

1 ,1 87, 1 73 v Patented June 13, 1916.

. WITNESSESM H MENTOR %7!7f/? d u /yfl nrrohmzys onrran sraras PATENT cation.

WALTER a. remnant, or nnr osrr, new YORK.

'rmn CHAIN AND more.

' Specification of Letters' Batent.

Patented June 13, 1916.

To all whom z'tmdy concern:

- Be it known that I, WALTER acitizen of the United States, anda resident of Deposit, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and useful'lmprovement in Tire Chains and Armor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in tire chains and armor, and the invention has for its object to provide a chain of the character specified, adapted for use with tires of any I character for preventing skidding 'and slipping and for increasing the traction of, the

wheel, wherein a series of similar'connecting or non-skid plates or blocks is provided, each having lugs orspur on one face, and wherein connecting hing are provided for connecting. the plates to each other and to the holding rings, the links being adapted to engage loosely over certain of the spurs or lugs .to connect the plates, and wherein a holding hnks being permanently or rembvabl? connected to .thenon-sln'd plates toperm member or washer is connected; 'to. each of the said non-skid plates in such manner as to lap ,over the ends of the links engaging the spurs'or lugs to prevent displacement of the from the spurs or lugs, the members it their removal to detach a plate or plates when essential, and wherein the arrangement is such that the chain, as a whole, may be elongated circumferentially of the tire; by com tracting the same laterally to permit the easy insertion ,of the chain on the tire. and to afterward permit the easy tightening of the chain on the tire by the'contraction of theholding means to expand the chain laterally and contract the same circumferentially of the tire. 4

In the drawings :Figure .1 is'a transverse section of the chain in place on a tire,

Fig. 2 is a partial plan'view of the chain in plane condition, Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4: is aperspective view of one of the connecting plates or blocks, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified means for connecting the. endsof the retaining members.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in Fi 1 in connection with a shoe or casing 1 01 the clencher type, and the improvedchain comprises-a series of similar "1 ti or non-sln'd blo Plates J. Porn-AM,

series 5 and a series 6. The members of each series are four in' number and the spurs or lugs of the series 5 are arranged at the four corners of the plate or block, while the members of the series 6 are arranged between the adjacent spurs or lugs 5, at the center of the four side edges of the plate or block.

It will be noticed that-the spurs or lugs 5 are of larger size than the spurs or lugs 6, and are rounded as shown, being substantially frusto conicalin form, having their large ends or bases integral with the block or plate. l

' The spurs or lugs of the series 5 are holding spurs and lugs having no other function, while the spurs or lugs'6 in additionto being holding spurs or lugs are also connecting spurs or lugs, serving thus a double function. i

The plates or blocks- 2 are arranged as shown in the. present instance inthree series, extending circumferentially of the tire or longitudinally of the chain when expanded, namely, a central and two lateral series. Themembers of the plates or blocks of the central series are staggered with respect to the members. of the plates or blocks of the lateral'series,,and the members of the lateral series are in alinement transversely of the chain, and the diagonals of all of the blocks transverse to the chain are parallel.

The blocks or plates of the central and lateral series are connected by links 7 each 015 the said links Z engaging over lugs 6 at the adjacent side edges of adjacent plates, and the long axes of the links 7 are in alinement with the central axes of the plates. Each of the central blocks or plates 1s connected to four blocks .or plates of the two lateral series, namely, to two blocks of each lateral'series.

Each member of the lateral series is connected to two blocks of the central series, as shown, and the links are prevented from becoming disengaged from the spurs or lugs 6 by means of holding or retaining meme tral opening bers or Washers. Each of the said retaining members is in the present instance a cir- Arivet 11 is )assed through the re ister ing openings, the head of the rivet engaging the counter-sunk or reamed portion i of the opening 3 and each rivet is headed as shown on the portion 9 of the washer. The rim portion 8 of each washer laps loosely over the inner ends of the links 7, far enough to prevent outward movement of the link but loosely enough .to permit some play of the link 011 the lug 6. r v

The washers are of a size to fit loosely within or between the four lugs of the series 6, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, and the head of the rivet isin the concavity of the washer 0r retaining member, and below the level of the rim portion 8 of the washer. This r-im port-ion is also below the level of the small ends of the lugs S'and. 6, and the said lugs are in' approximately the same plane. i

The plates or blocks 2 of the lateral so ries are connected to retaining rings 12 of wire or the like, by means of links 13, and U-shaped or yoke-shaped members 1l-+l5 16', to be later described more particularly. Each oi the retaining rings 12 is a wire of suitable gage having its ends threaded as shown at 17, and the threaded ends of each wire are engaged by a turnbuckle 18, consisting of two nuts integrally connected as shown, the nuts being oppositely threaded as are also the ends 17 of the ring.

The arrangement is such that when the turn-buckles are turnedin one direction the ends of the ring will be drawn together, while when the turnbuekles are turned in the other direction the ends will be moved away from each other. The links 13 are slightly longer than the links 7 but of the same gage or approximately so, and each link 18 is connected with'the lug Got one of the lateral series of plates, engaging loosely over the lug in the same manner as the links 7 engaging over the said lugs. Each plate or block Qhas two links 13, connected therewith, and the links 13 or". adjacent blocks are engaged with the body portion 1 4 of the adjacent members 1l5-15. Each of the.

said members consists of the body portion opening 8---fi of the plate ormemes 1a and arms 15, extending approximately parallel with respect to each other, and each arm is provided at its free end with eye 1G,.for engaging the adjacent ring 12. The. links of each plate, or" the lateral series, diverge from each other and the links 13 of adjacent plates converge as shown. Each of the links-13 is given a quarter turn at'its outer end and the bodies l i ot the members are passed. through the turned ends before the retaining rings. 12 are engaged with the eyes 16.

in use, the device arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the chain, as a whole, that is, that portion of the chain between the remote corncrs of the plates of thelateral. series being of an, aggregate width sufiicient to extend well over the tread oi the shoe or casing. The links 13 and the members 1415-16 are of such length that they will permit the retainingmembers to take the approximate position shown in Fig.- 1 when the chain is in place.

it will be evident that the arrangement permits theplates or blocks'of the lateral series to move toward each other and toward the plates or blocks of the intermediate or central series. When they are so moved toward each other'it will be obvious that the chainyas a whole will be elongated longitudinally of the chain or circumferen.

tially oi"; the tire to permit the easy placing reason, the plates or blocks 2 may be curved I transversely in one direction as shown in Fig. 3 'or in both directions it thought advisable or they may be plane or approximately so.

I Should forany ,reason it be desirable to loosen or release a' plate or block or a'link it is only, necessary to cut the rivet which connects tie retaining member to the plate or block. The link in question may be then detached or the block itself; it will be evi dent that instead of a rivet a bolt and nut might he used for holding the plate in place.

Thisis especially true in makingtemporary repairs.

Should a link become damaged, or a plate or a riaet break, the rivet may be replaced by bolt and-nutter the time being,.and the injury will not put the chain out 01'? commission. This is a feature of importance, since the repairing oi the chain both temporary and permanent is greatly facilitated. All the lugs 5 and 6 are holding or non-skid lugs to prevent movement of the pla ws or blocks in their planes.

The-chains in addition to the feature of preventing skidding constitute a tire armor to prevent wear on the tire and to prevent puncture and injury from rough roads. All of the wear on the plates or blocks is on the small ends of the lugs 5 and 6 and the plates ,or blocks sitting as they do close together,

ofl'er an excellent armor protection for the tire.

The resiliency of the tire is in no degree impaired when the chains are in use, since the flexible construction permits movement of the elements of the chain in any dime-.-

4 may be easily replaced and should a block .or plate become broken the difficulty of replacement is no greater. In addition should a link or block break there will be no danger of skidding as would be the case were. a cross chain or the like, used. Should a block break the holding lugswill still hold and should a link break the same obtains. Moreover unless the four links supporting a block or plate were broken the plate would be held in position on the chain. It will be evident that all four links of a plate must be broken before it will become detached from the chain.

In. Fig. 5 is shown a modified holding means for connecting the ends of the retaining rings. In this construction the ends of the ring 19 are laid alongside each other in grooves 20 in clamping blocks 21.- As regards the grooves 20, each block 21 may have two grooves lying parallel for receiving the single ends, or the single groove 1 12 may be released to permit the for receiving both ends of the ring. Bolts.

22 are passed through registering openings in the blocks at the opposite sides of the grooves and the bolts are engaged by nuts 23 to clamp the blocks 21 on the wire rings,

In placing the chain the ends'of one ring tire to be placed. The ends are then engaged with the turn-buckle 18 when used or with the clamp 21, and whenthe ring is tightened in the latter instance the nuts 23 are tightened to clamp the blocks on the wire ends. In Fig. 2 the turn-buckles may be turned to contact the retaining rings.

It will be evident from the description that the improved chain may be easily fitted to-any diameter or size of tire by removing or'adding plates and links. sonable limits it will not be necessary to remove links or plates, since difi'erences may be compensated for by expanding or contracting the tire.

I claim: p

1. A tire prt ector comprising linked members having outwardly extending wearresisting lugs receiving the connecting links Within rea-- and. retaining members .coacting with the linked members to prevent displacement of the connecting links and protected from wear and injury by the said outwardly extending wear-resisting lugs.

2. Atire protector comprising membershavingv outwardly extending wear-resisting lugs, links engaging the lugs and forming connecting means between them, and retaining members attached to the lug bearing members and overlapping the links to prevent their displacement from the lugs, said retaining members being Wear and injury by the sald lugs.

3. A tire protector comprising members having outwardly extending wear-resisting lugs, links engaging the lugs and forming connecting means between them, retaining members disposed between the lugs of the several lug bearing members and having protected from their outer edges overlapping the inner ends I of the links to prevent their displacement from the lugs,'and fastening means securingthe retaining members in. place, the lugs pro ecting outwardly beyond the retaining members to protect them from injury and wear. 4. A tire protector comprising members having outwardly extending wear-resisting lugs, links engaging the lugs and forming connecting means between them, and retaining inembers attached centrally to the sev-j eral lug bearing 'members and having their outer edges offset and extending over the inner ends of the links to prevent their displacement from the lugs, said retaining members being protected by the lugs which project outwardly therefrom.

5. A tire protector comprising members 1 having outwardly extending wear-resisting lugs, links engaging the lugs and forming connecting means between them, retaining members disposed upon the' lug bearing members with their central portions in contact therewith and having their edge portions offset outwardly and extending .over

the inner ends of the connecting links to hold them in place, and means securing the retaining members centrally to the lug hearing members.

6. A tire protector comprising members having outwardly extending wear-resisting lugs, links engaging the lugs and forming connecting means between them, and circular retaining members having their central portions depressed and placed against the lug bearing members and attached thereto,

and having their outer portions overhang ing the inner ends of the links to prevent their.displacement from the lugs.

7. A tire protector comprising members having two sets of outwardly extending lugs, the lugs of one set being disposed at a greater distance from a central point than the lugs of the other set, and links engaging the jlugs nearer the center, with the lugs Jremote'from the center coming between each two adjacent links,

8. tire protector comprising members Y having two sets of outwardly extending lugs, thelugs of one set being disposed at a greater distance from a central point than the lugs of the other 'set, links engaging the lugs nearer the center, with the lugs remote frorn the center, coming between each two 1 adjacent linkg' and circular retaining members secured centrallyvto the lug bearing members with their outer edge portions overhanging the links and approximately in contact with the lugs engaged bysnch 1 links.

91A tire protector comprising approximately square members provided at their corners and midway of their edges with out-,

26 wardly extending lugs links engaging the middle lugs, and connecting the members,

and retaining members secured centrally to the lug bearing members and having their outer edges extending over the inner ends of the links to hold them from displacement with the engaging lugs, said, retaining members being protected from injury and wear by" the lugs which project outwardly v therefrom.

10. A tire protector comprising a plurality of linked members, each of such members consisting of an approximately square --ing the washers centrally with the plates the lugs projecting beyond the washers to receive *the wear and protect the washers from injury."

Wi l/KER J. PUTNAM. 

